Sun Set To Stay

The beautiful sun basking weather Ireland enjoyed yesterday looks set to last for some time.

The indications are that we look set to bask in more sunshine this week, with rising temperatures and clear skies set to dominate.

The south and the east will benefit most from the warm weather that saw the magic 20C achieved in the Phoenix Park yesterday.

Although rain is expected towards midweek, the forecast is for sun.

Today started dry and clear in the east and south. Cloudy conditions in the west and north, with patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle, are due to gradually spread southeast across the country during the day, but a clearance to sunny periods will follow from the northwest during the afternoon and evening.

Highest temperatures today are expected to reach 18C in the sunshine.

Tomorrow will see sunshine and showers, with temperatures reaching the mid teens in light winds.

And Wednesday is expected to be the one day where there is a good chance of some rain and wind, but temperatures will stay in the mid to high teens.

Thursday could see the turnaround that everyone is looking for, and it will be fingers crossed for the June bank holiday weekend.

The mercury is expected to hit the 20s again, just as the nation's students knuckle down to some studying for their exams.

And while everyone enjoyed the great weather over the weekend and sparked-up their barbecues, few would dare to predict a proper summer on the horizon.

That could just bring on a hat-trick of the wet seasons that have depressed us for the past two years.